When to start
For sunrise, begin between midnight and 3 AM depending on fitness. Sunset climbs are quieter — start early afternoon.
Jabal Musa
Jabal Musa
South Sinai · Egypt
The Mountain of Moses · جبل موسى
Rising to 2,285 m above the desert, Mount Sinai is one of the world's great pilgrim climbs. Walk up through the night, reach the summit for sunrise, and descend past a monastery that has stood for fifteen centuries.
Overview
Jabal Musa sits deep in the granite ranges of the South Sinai Peninsula, about 3 km from the small town of Saint Catherine. It is the second-highest peak in Egypt — only neighbouring Mount Catherine (2,629 m) is taller — and it is sacred in Judaism, Christianity and Islam as the place where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.
Most travellers arrive by road from the Red Sea resorts, climb overnight with a local Bedouin guide, and watch the sun rise over an endless sea of jagged peaks. Two historic paths lead up; both finish on the same steep final staircase.
The Route
Both trails begin near Saint Catherine's Monastery and converge at Elijah's Basin before the final push to the summit. Toggle the markers to explore.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Trail lines are illustrative approximations.
Two Paths Up
Populated live from data/trails.xml.
The Climb
Start at ~1,586 m by Saint Catherine's Monastery. A paved path leads to the trailheads.
The gentle Camel Path swings right; the steep Steps of Repentance rise directly behind the monastery.
Camels can go no further. By here you've gained roughly 500 m of the ~700 m climb.
Both routes converge at Elijah's Hollow, a small plateau with cypress trees and tea stalls.
The final 750 rocky steps — the steepest part — lead to the peak and its sunrise panorama.
At the Foot of the Mountain
Built between 548 and 565 AD on the order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Saint Catherine's is one of the oldest continuously working monasteries on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
Behind its fortress walls stand the Church of the Transfiguration, the Chapel of the Burning Bush, a 12th-century Fatimid mosque, and a library holding around 6,000 manuscripts — second only to the Vatican.
Plan Your Trek
For sunrise, begin between midnight and 3 AM depending on fitness. Sunset climbs are quieter — start early afternoon.
Summit nights are cold and windy year-round. Bedouin stalls near the top rent blankets and sell hot tea.
The terrain is rocky and uneven — solid shoes and a headlamp are essential for the dark ascent.
Local Jabaliya guides know every stone of the mountain and are required for the overnight climb.
Climb the night before a Friday or Sunday, when the monastery is closed to day visitors.
Many go up the gentle Camel Path and come down the Steps of Repentance for the views and history.
Prices & Booking
To book, message our local Bedouin guide network directly on WhatsApp. The guide confirms availability and the final price with you.
1,200 EGP
per trip
500 EGP
per person
Local guide network
+20 10 6237 6744Prices are indicative, in Egyptian Pounds (EGP) — please confirm with the guide when booking.